Fine tuning specifics: Reasons for God (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, May 03, 2017, 01:23 (2762 days ago) @ Balance_Maintained

DHW: Your example does not illustrate the point I was making, which concerned religious belief, not your God’s actions or Armageddon. The short answer to your own question, though, is that the story of Noah’s flood has always appalled me, because I cannot believe for one moment that every single man, woman and above all child – apart from Noah and his family – deserved to be wiped off the face of the earth. As for the point that I was making, you really don’t need me to explain, but I will because you have questioned it. Any religious belief that leads a person to cause physical or mental damage to others is what I mean by “harmful”. For example, I am opposed to a belief that drives someone to plant a bomb or crash a truck or plane in the hope that God will reward him for killing infidels. I have no doubt that you will feel the same way.

Tony: Here in the U.S., and in much of the so-called civilized world, it is considered harmful to spank a child. Now, the bible says that sparing the rod spoils the child and that a father that does not discipline his son actually hates him. So, the question is, do you consider something like spanking to be 'harmful'? And before this gets derailed, I am not talking about beatings. Just good old fashioned spankings.

I did not spank. My father threatened to, but never did. Verbal control is sufficient if handled properly. They were firmly taught. They got small allowances since they had to learn to budget; they helped around the house and yard. They all wanted phone lines in high school. Our house looked like a bookie joint, but they each had a part time job to pay for their own phone. They all went to college on my dime, but I didn't pay for sororities or fraternities in the budgeted monies they were given. They were given vehicles in their senior year of college so when they graduated they had their own transportation. They were told their time at home ended with college graduation. They were to work and support themselves. Later on they all thanked me for teaching them how to handle adult living. Tough love, yes, but the only kind worth it.